Bringit Launches Uber-Like Service for Your Luggage
If traveling light isn't really your style and you're tired of schlepping your luggage back and forth between the airport, home and hotel, you might have a new option. Bringit, who bills itself as an on-demand luggage delivery service, has launched in Miami. The company will be expanding to New York's LaGuardia (LGA) and JFK as well as Los Angeles (LAX) later this year.
For a fee of $25 the service will pick up your bags — up to two — and deliver them to the airport, home or any destination you choose within a 10-mile radius of the airport. Additional bags are $5 and if you're outside the 10-mile radius you'll be charged an extra $1 per mile. Much like the Uber business model, the company is using a fleet of independent car owners to build a network to move your luggage.
According to the company's website, the luggage, which gets "tagged, controlled and tracked," is sealed in a reusable recyclable plastic bag, which has a QR code for tracking. Customers will be able to track their luggage in real time via the app or get updates via text message. Each bag is insured for up to $1,500 if it is lost, stolen or damaged.
While this service might not appeal to everyone, there are some situations where this could really come in handy. If you were flying into JFK, you could much more easily take the train from the airport into the city sans-luggage, all for less than $8. If you opt for a taxi because of bulky bags, the flat fee for a cab ride from JFK according to the NYC Taxi Commission starts at $52, plus any tolls, additional fees and surcharges. Booking Bringit ($25) and jumping on the train instead would mean having an extra $19 in your pocket.
Turns out a trip to NYC is what inspired founder Israel Arellano to create the service. "On a business trip in NYC I noticed people lugging their baggage down Times Square, and asked myself, 'with today's technology, why are we still traveling with our bags like we did 100 years ago?"
Hassle aside, travelers have the option to fly in earlier and leave later without having to worry about dealing with your luggage before or after checkout, which would let you maximize the time you have to enjoy the destination or snag better fares for your air travel without dealing with the logistics of your luggage. While most hotels in NYC have baggage checks which allow you to store your baggage before or after checkout, if you are staying in an Airbnb or VBRO property you might not have that option. Using the service would also mean you don't have to stop off at your hotel to unload your stuff before you hit the city or pick up your bags on the way to the airport.
Currently customers can book the service via Bringit's website. When the service launches in New York, the company will also be releasing a mobile app for Android and iOS. After adding LGA, JFK and LAX, the company plans to continue its expansion to 10 more cities by 2021.
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